Study Area and OFWs

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Water Quality Standards


62-302.530 FAC

Surface Water Quality Criteria

  • (48)(b) In no case shall nutrient concentrations of a body of water be altered so as to cause an imbalance in natural populations of aquatic flora or fauna.

  • Numeric interpretations of the narrative nutrient criterion in paragraph 62-302.530(48)(b), F.A.C., shall be expressed as spatial averages and applied over a spatial area consistent with their derivation. In applying the water quality standards, the Department shall take into account the variability occurring in nature and shall recognize the statistical variability inherent in sampling and testing procedures.


62-302.532 FAC

Estuary-Specific Numeric Interpretations of the Narrative Nutrient Criterion

62-302.532(1) FAC. Estuary-Specific Numeric Interpretations of the Narrative Nutrient Criterion.

Estuary

Segement

Total
Phosphorus
(mg L⁻¹) A

Total
Nitrogen
(mg L⁻¹) A

Chlorophyll-a
(μg L⁻¹) A

(f) Florida Bay

1. Central Florida Bay

0.019

0.99

2.2

2. Coastal Lakes

0.045

1.29

9.3

3. East Centeral Florida Bay

0.007

0.65

0.4

4. Northern Florida Bay

0.010

0.68

0.8

5. Southern Florida Bay

0.009

0.64

0.8

6. Western Florida Bay

0.015

0.37

1.4

(g) Florida Keys

1. Back Bay

0.009

0.25

0.3

2. Backshelf

0.011

0.23

0.7

3. Lower Keys

0.008

0.21

0.3

4. Marquesas

0.008

0.21

0.6

5. Middle Keys

0.007

0.22

0.3

6. Oceanside

0.007

0.17

0.3

7. Upper Keys

0.007

0.18

0.2

(h) Biscayne Bay

1. Card Sound

0.008

0.33

0.5

2. Manatee Bay - Barnes Sound

0.007

0.58

0.4

3. North Central Inshore

0.007

0.31

0.5

4. North Central Outer-Bay

0.008

0.28

0.7

5. Northern North Bay

0.012

0.30

1.7

6. South Central Inshore

0.007

0.48

0.4

7. South Central Mid-Bay

0.007

0.35

0.2

8. South Central Outer-Bay

0.006

0.24

0.2

9. Southern North Bay

0.010

0.29

1.1

A Criteria expressed as annual geometric means (AGM) are not to be exceeded more than once in a three year period.

Outstanding Florida Waters

62-302.700 FAC

Special Protection, Outstanding Florida Waters, Outstanding National Resource Waters

  • The policy of this section shall be implemented through the permitting process pursuant to Rule 62-4.242, F.A.C.

    1. For each Outstanding Florida Water listed under subsection 62-302.700(9), F.A.C., the last day of the baseline year for defining the existing ambient water quality (paragraph 62-4.242(2)(c), F.A.C.) is March 1, 1979, unless otherwise indicated. Where applicable, Outstanding Florida Water boundary expansions are indicated by date(s) following “as mod.” under subsection 62-302.700(9), F.A.C. For each Outstanding Florida Water boundary which expanded subsequent to the original date of designation, the baseline year for the entire Outstanding Florida Water, including the expansion, remains March 1, 1979, unless otherwise indicated.


62-302.700 FAC. Outstanding Florida Waters.

Name

Date 1

Biscayne National Park

as mod. 5-14-86, 8-8-94

Everglades National Park

as mod. 8-8-94

East Everglades

5-14-86

Miami Rockridge Pinelands

8-8-94

John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park

as mod. 5-14-86, 4-19-88

North Key Largo Hammock

5-14-86; as mod. 4-19-88, 10-4-90, 8-8-94

Oleta River State Recreation Area

12-1-82

Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge

12-1-82; as mod. 5-14-86, 4-19-88, 8-8-94

Biscayne Bay AP (Cape Florida)

---

Biscayne Bay AP (Card Sound)

12-1-82

Florida Keys b

---

Deering Hammock/Estate

5-14-86; as mod. 4-19-88, 8-8-94

ITT Hammock

5-14-86

1 Date as referenced in 62-302.700 FAC, no date indicates default baseline period (prior to March 1,1979)

bFlorida keys identified as special waters 62-302.700(9)(i)13 FAC


62-4.242(2) FAC

Antidegradation Permitting Requirements; Outstanding Florida Waters; Outstanding National Resource Waters

    1. “No Department permit or water quality certification shall be issued for any proposed activity or discharge within an Outstanding Florida Waters, or which significantly degrades, either alone or in combination with other stationary installations…”

Stated otherwise, if an upstream discharge ultimately flows into a downstream OFW (i.e., the discharge to the OFW is indirect), then the upstream discharge cannot significantly degrade the OFW. Because no proposed project is expected to constitute a direct discharge into an OFW or to significantly degrade an OFW, any additional OFW requirements are unlikely to apply.